PRIVATE JOURNEYS

A CULINARY TOUR OF THE BASQUE COUNTRY WITH JOHN SPENCE

Join Scott Dunn USA President, John Spence, on a tour designed by Mimo Food’s Managing Director and Founder, Jon Warren, that’s truly a feast for the senses. This 11-day trip includes dinner at Michelin-starred restaurants, winery visits, cooking classes with top chefs, an exclusive tapas tour, outings to world-famous art museums and expertly guided tours of charming villages.

October 2nd - 12th, 2018, 11 days HOST: JOHN SPENCE PRESIDENT OF SCOTT DUNN USA

Having run a successful safari company (Aardvark) for nearly 20 years, John Spence is an expert at designing one-of-a-kind trips for guests all over the world. He joined the Scott Dunn management team in 2016 as President of its USA office in California. He’s lived and worked in Africa and explored the continent on various madcap adventures.

Once a white-water rafting guide on the world-renowned rapids of the Zambezi River, his first encounter with Africa was as a mixologist in a Cape Town cocktail bar. It was the beginning of a life-long love affair with the continent—a passion that has grown across countless journeys on horseback, by canoe, light aircraft, on foot, and behind the wheel of a car.

John is now expanding his horizons beyond Africa, with recent trips including Alaska, Peru, Costa Rica, Greece and Iceland to name just a few. As a fellow foodie, the Basque Country has always been on his bucket list and he can’t wait to join you on this once-in-a-lifetime trip. HOST: JON WARREN MIMO

After working as a city banker in London, Jon took a holiday to San Sebastián and shortly after dropped everything to live in this beautiful city by the sea. While working in hospitality at Villa Soro he recognized the city’s need for a food tourism hub and San Sebastián Food was born. What started as a dream quickly grew from pintxo tours to a bricks-and-mortar location. In autumn of 2014, he moved San Sebastián Food into its new home in the famed Hotel Maria Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel, with the inauguration of a luxurious gourmet shop and in April 2015, he opened a cooking school. Always hungry, he has expanded the business to include Mimo Sevilla and Mimo Mallorca, under the new name of Mimo.

Jon has worked alongside Scott Dunn to create this exclusive and unique journey around the Basque Country. You will have the opportuniy to spend time with Jon in San Sebastián. A CULINARY TOUR BASQUE COUNTRY

TUESDAY 2 OCTOBER

After arriving in Madrid, your trip will kick start with a panoramic city tour. Visit the magnificent avenues of Madrid and find your bearings before hopping off the private vehicle and continuing on foot. Stroll through the cobbled streets and squares of the medieval Austrias area, steeped in history. Browse the modernist gourmet market of San Miguel, pass the world’s oldest restaurant and stop along the way to visit centenary shops and local craftspeople. Finish the tour with a well-deserved Spanish wine tasting with our sommelier at a charming local taberna.

Tonight, we are proud to work exclusively with the González family to bring you The Botín Experience. Also situated in the medieval Austrias area of Madrid, the Botín restaurant was founded in 1725 and has been visited by people all over the world, from royalty, politicians, writers and Hollywood stars. You’ll receive a guided tour of the restaurant, hearing about its history, its art and anecdotes before sitting for a six-course tasting menu including some of its most classic dishes and wine.

Overnight at Westin Palace Madrid in a Premium room. Breakfast included. A CULINARY TOUR BASQUE COUNTRY

WEDNESDAY 3 OCTOBER

Your morning will begin with a guided tour of one of Madrid’s renowned museums. You can chose between The Prado Museum, the main Spanish national art museum widely considered to have one of the world’s finest collections of European art or the Thyssen-Bornemisza, another art gallery which has its origin from a private collection and fills the historical gaps in its counterparts’ collections.

Then, amble through the streets of the old city where your guide will take you into bars beloved by locals for their specialities. Your masterful guide will weave a tale of the tastes of Madrid, taking you to both modern and classic bars with contrasting atmospheres to give you a true taste of one of Spain’s favorite pastimes. By the end of the tour, you will be a professional tapas hopper.

Save room for dinner, because this evening you’ll be spoiled with mouthwatering food and chosen wines at one of Madrid’s Michelin-starred restaurants.

Overnight at Westin Palace Madrid in a Premium room. Breakfast included. A CULINARY TOUR BASQUE COUNTRY

THURSDAY 4 OCTOBER

After checking-out and a short flight to Bilbao, you’ll be transferred to the Guggenheim Museum and treated to a short guided tour.

Next, you’ll head to the area’s best kept secret for lunch; the Landa restaurant. Found in the village of Mendaro (famous for its chocolates), this real local gem represents the traditional cooking of the Basque country.

After lunch, continue on to San Sebastián where a private pintxos evening tour awaits. Pintxo is a Basque word which means “to spike”, so they are literally small bite-sized foods help together by a stick! They are meant to be enjoyed in the company of others, an evening spent in pintxos bars is the ultimate Basque experience. While it’s hard to have a bad meal in town, knowing exactly where to go for the best, freshest, and most exciting pintxos takes local, insider knowledge. We dive straight into the heart of the city for a night of eating and drinking unlike you’ve ever experienced. From fresh prawns to line-caught baby squid to perfectly charred steak, the pintxo hunt changes nightly but always features a range of traditional spots and chic, avant-garde bars. Come thirsty, too, as we’ll be pairing each pintxo with the perfect pour, from cider to local whites and reds.

Overnight at Hotel Maria Cristina, San Sebastián in a Premium River View room. Breakfast included. A CULINARY TOUR BASQUE COUNTRY

FRIDAY 5 OCTOBER

Today, you will enjoy a private pinxto cooking class at the renowned Mimo cooking school. Learn how to replicate these sophisticated snacks on a cooking journey through the recipes of the most famous streets and bars in San Sebastián’s Old Town. You will prepare a variety of pinxtos ranging from shrimp kebab at Goiz Argi to the beef cheek at Borda Berri, and in the end you’ll be a chef extraordinaire. Following your class, you’ll enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Take a few hours to unwind before dinner at a gastronomic society (txoko). These dining societies are a culinary mystery to the masses and remain a fully local secret. Our insider guides, however, have opened their txoko for you. Enter the door of the dining society and watch as a traditional dinner is prepared. Settle down at the large, family-style tables and enjoy a meal prepared with products from the market and wines from the society’s cellar.

Overnight at Hotel Maria Cristina, San Sebastián in a Premium River View room. Breakfast included. A CULINARY TOUR BASQUE COUNTRY

SATURDAY 6 OCTOBER

This morning, we’ll drive to the Chillida Leku Museum, a museum showcasing the incredible work of sculptor Eduardo Chillida. We’ll enjoy a private tour with the son of this world-renowned sculptor. Listen to him explain the history of the museum and the masterpieces created by his father.

Then, driving further down the coastline, we’ll reach Getaria, a beautiful, unique village, rich in food, culture and history. Join our local expert guides with a stroll through its cobblestone streets, making our way to its working port.

Next, we’ll go from the seaside to the countryside, learning about Basque cuisine at its roots at a very special Basque farm. The owner, Jaime, grows some of the rarest heirloom produce in Basque Country, everything from guisantes de lágrima, tiny pearls of peas valued at over €100/kg, to sweet, wild-tasting strawberries. Be ready to be delighted.

Tonight, we’re dining at Arzak restaurant which boasts three-Michelin stars and is ranked at No.8 in the world. Chef Juan Mari Arzak is considered the godfather of Basque cuisine and his daughter Elena is ranked as one of the world’s top female chefs. You’ll often see them walking around, talking to guests and adding an authentic touch to this 4th generation restaurant. Food and wines chosen by the maître d’ are included.

Overnight at Hotel Maria Cristina, San Sebastián in a Premium River View room. Breakfast included. A CULINARY TOUR BASQUE COUNTRY

SUNDAY 7 OCTOBER

After all the delicious food and cultural experiences, you’ll need some rest. Today you’re free to go at your own pace, exploring the city or sailing, surfing, golfing and pampering yourself with spa treatments.

In the evening, you’ll be treated to an entirely new experience at the Mimo luxury cooking school in San Sebastián. Combining the expertise of their full-time sommelier with their popular head chef, they’ll pair Spanish wines with local produce cooked right before your eyes using fresh ingredients purchased daily at La Brexta market. With a glass in hand, ask the sommelier all your questions about the Spanish wine scene, and glean great cooking tips from the chef as he prepares your food. From crisp, floral whites to robust reds such as Rioja or Ribera del Duero, this fluid experience allows you to experience wine in a new way, from sitting at a wooden table to gathering around the stove, chatting and learning. Spain has more vine-covered acres than any other country, so travel by taste in this unique experience.

Overnight at Hotel Maria Cristina, San Sebastián in a Premium River View room. Breakfast included. A CULINARY TOUR BASQUE COUNTRY

MONDAY 8 OCTOBER

Today, you’ll transfer across the border from San Sebastián to Biarritz in France. On arrival, enjoy a leisurely stroll with an expert guide through the glamorous streets of Biarritz, taking in this chic coastal city. You’ll stop at Les Halles de Biarritz, the famous food market, it’s a feast for the senses where the regional cheese, wines and seasonal bounty are on another level.

Take a midday aperitif with a distinct local flavor before moving south to St. Jean de Luz. This enchanting fishing village is charming and - better yet - undiscovered by all but the select French cognoscenti. An elegant seaside lunch featuring French Basque cuisine and techniques finishes this magical tour of Le Pays Basque.

Your evening is then yours to do as you please.

Overnight at Hotel du Palais, Biarritz in a Beach or Pool View room. Breakfast included. A CULINARY TOUR BASQUE COUNTRY

TUESDAY 9 OCTOBER

We will take a morning trip to explore the French Basque Country. Our first stop is in Ainhoa which is widely considered one of the most beautiful villages in France, with its quaint architecture and lovely surroundings. Next, we will visit Espelette, the village famed for its pepper, traditionally left to dry hanging on the front of farmhouses, before being ground into powdered piment d’Espelette. We will also visit the Castle of the Barons of Espelette.

After a cultural morning, lunch will be well deserved at Hotel Arraya in Sare. This boutique village hotel houses one of the area’s finest restaurants. The menu features typical Basque products with a finer, French touch.

Dinner including wines will be at a local restaurant.

Overnight at Hotel du Palais, Biarritz in a Beach or Pool View room. Breakfast included.

THURSDAY 10 OCTOBER

We’ll depart Biarritz this morning and make our way to the Arinzano Estate in Navarra, found in the Spanish Rioja region. Take a tour of the winery, the historical buildings (one dating back to the 16th century), Rafael Moneo architectural work, and a ride around the estate in a 4×4 to look at the vines and the surrounding countryside, crossing the Ega River to reach a natural stone plateau. A CULINARY TOUR BASQUE COUNTRY

The visit will be followed by an exclusive lunch planned around the freshest vegetables of the season, which is Navarra’s claim to culinary fame. At the hand of one of the most renowned chefs in Spanish cuisine, these traditional ingredients are refined, and incredibly delicious.

This afternoon, we’ll drive on to Elciego to the Marqués de Riscal Winery, your home for the next two nights. Designed by Frank Gehry, this hotel and ‘Wine City’ gleams impressively over the Rioja landscape. You’ll gain exclusive access and tour the bodega, one of Rioja’s finest.

Tonight’s dinner including wine is at the Marqués del Riscal restaurant. Its culinary excellence and superb levels of service have earned the restaurant a prestigious Michelin star and helped make it one of the hottest destinations in the region for gourmands. Under the inspirational guidance of famed chef Francis Paniego the restaurant is experiencing an ongoing evolution based on culinary excellence and innovation.

Overnight at Marqués de Riscal, Elciego in a Premium Spa room. Breakfast included. A CULINARY TOUR BASQUE COUNTRY

THURSDAY 11 OCTOBER

On your last full day, you will visit Laguardia, the medieval Riojan town, and enter into one of its traditional bodegas to glimpse the other side of Riojan winemaking. After this visit, we will keep expanding our palate in a second winery, whose tasting will be accompanied by lunch.

Then we will move onto nearby Haro, the center of winemaking in the Basque Rioja. We will pop into a special winery here before enjoying our farewell dinner at Terete Restaurant.

Overnight at Marqués de Riscal, Elciego in a Premium Spa room. Breakfast included.

DAY 11, FRIDAY 12TH OCTOBER

Sadly, this is the final day of your trip. You’ll check out from the hotel, bid adieu to Spain and head to Bilbao Airport. A CULINARY TOUR BASQUE REGION

NOTES AND PRICING

INCLUDED:

• Transfer services as stated on the itinerary. • Expert guides, tours, experiences and museums as stated in the itinerary. • Food and wine as stated in the itinerary. • All accommodation as stated in the itinerary.

NOT INCLUDED:

• International flights • Extras such as golfing, surfing or spa treatments. • Tips and gratuities

PRICE:

$12,250 per person (in double occupancy room)

$3,650 single supplement

NOTES:

This itinerary requires a minimum of 8 paying travelers to participate

This itinerary has a maximum of 16 paying participants

EXTRAS:

Spa treatments: from $45 per person.

Surf lesson, 1 hour: from $100 per person (on a private basis).

Golfing at the Real Club de Golf de San Sebastián: $155 per person. Includes transport and Green Fee. Minimum 2 people. HCP required: 28 for men, and 36 for ladies.

TRIP EXTENSIONS:

With so much on offer in Europe, you may want to extend your trip to make the most of your time on this continent. Head to the bright lights of London, the azure seas of the Mediterranean or into the Italian Dolomites to really get away from it all. Whatever takes your fancy, let us know.